Supreme Court Justice Felix Frankfurter TLS Re: The Late Justice Benjamin Cardozo

A very warm letter written to Harold Shapiro touching upon the death of Justice Benjamin Cardozo. Single page TLS, typed on Supreme Court of the United States, Washington D.C. letterhead, 5.75" x 9". Dated "January 7, 1946" and signed by Felix Frankfurter as "Felix Frankfurter" Near fine with expected folds, and light creasing.

 In full:

"Dear Mr. Shapiro,

I wish that I could make more than a token contribution for a chair in the community Church in memory of Mr. Justice Cardozo. In this case at least I know it is true that a very small symbol carries a large devotion. Thank you for writing. Very Sincerely yours,

Felix Frankfurter"

Justice Felix Frankfurter was the most controversial justice of his time. Frankfurter was born in Vienna, Austria, on November 15, 1882. For three centuries, members of his family had become rabbis. When his father visited the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893, he decided to move to America and became a fur trader. Frankfurter and his family emigrated a few months later in 1894. He was one of six children and grew up amidst crowded tenements on New York's lower east side. Frankfurter learned English quickly. By the age of 19, he had graduated third in his class from City College, and graduated first in his Harvard Law class in 1906. After a brief tour in private legal practice, Frankfurter joined Henry L. Stimson, who was the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. In 1911, Frankfurter went on to serve as Law Officer in the Bureau of Insular Affairs, where he argued a few cases in front of the Supreme Court. Though Frankfurter never claimed party identification, he began to identify more with progressivism. During this time, he befriended future justice Louis Brandeis and Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes.

Frankfurter accepted a position on the faculty of Harvard Law School, where he remained, more or less, until his appointment to the Supreme Court in 1938. Much like his reputation at Harvard, Frankfurter was known as a brilliant and confident justice able to dominate anyone of weaker intellect.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!